crested the hill

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a person, animal, or vehicle going over a hill. For example, "The car crested the hill before it began its descent into the valley."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Then you reach the point where you see you, too, have crested the hill.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The sun caught its high sides as it crested the hill.

The Guardian - Books

Suddenly a blue Dodge minivan crested the hill and pinballed King off its windshield.

The New York Times - Magazine

Belatedly I realise what has happened: I've crested the hill and am now running downwards.

The Guardian - Travel

I crested the hill and saw the Calf of Man and the sound below me -- as sweepingly beautiful a sight as any I've seen.

The New York Times - Travel

Van Vleuten and Abbott, a two-times Giro Rosa winner, crested the hill first, with the eventual medallists Borghini, Johansson and Van der Breggen in hot pursuit.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Cresting the hill that overlooked our frozen outpost, I saw their village.

The New Yorker

A golf cart crests the hill, plumbers dangling out the sides, wielding golf clubs and forty-ounce bottles of beer.

The New Yorker

Every morning, this man told me, he looked to the east and expected to see Russian hordes cresting the hill just beyond the outskirts of his defenseless town.

The New Yorker

I was four miles out on a routine five-mile run, cresting the hill that leads down to Wonderland Lake, distracted by my usual cosmic thoughts.

The New York Times

On cresting the hill just above some trees, travel along the bank top to reach a stile where the fences narrow on meeting the plantation.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "crested the hill" to vividly describe a moment of reaching a high point, either literally in terms of terrain or metaphorically in a narrative. This phrase is more impactful when emphasizing a change in perspective or a turning point.

Common error

Avoid using "crested the hill" to describe achieving minor, insignificant goals. This phrase is best suited for situations where the climb or effort to reach the peak is significant, not for everyday occurrences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "crested the hill" primarily functions as a verb phrase, specifically a past tense verb phrase. It vividly describes the action of reaching the highest point of a hill. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Travel

20%

Sports

10%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Academia

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "crested the hill" is a grammatically sound and vivid verb phrase used to describe reaching the top of a hill. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its proper usage. While not extremely common, it finds its primary context in News & Media, Travel, and Sports reporting. The phrase is best used to depict a change in perspective or the achievement of a significant point, whether literal or metaphorical. Related phrases offer alternative ways to convey similar meanings, and awareness of common errors, like overuse in trivial situations, can enhance writing precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

went over the crest of the hill

More descriptive, specifying the curved top part of the hill.

topped the hill

A more concise and informal way to say "crested the hill".

reached the summit of the hill

More formal and emphasizes the achievement of reaching the highest point.

gained the hilltop

Emphasizes the acquisition of the hill's top.

peaked the hill

A less common, but potentially valid, alternative.

ascended the hill

Focuses on the act of climbing, rather than reaching the top.

arrived at the summit

Focuses on arrival at the highest point; more formal.

made it over the hill

Implies effort and overcoming a challenge to get over the hill.

overcame the hill

Highlights the difficulty and success in conquering the hill.

cleared the hill

Suggests moving past the hill without necessarily reaching the highest point.

FAQs

How can I use "crested the hill" in a sentence?

The phrase "crested the hill" is typically used to describe the action of reaching the top of a hill. For example: "The car "crested the hill", revealing a breathtaking view of the valley below."

What can I say instead of "crested the hill"?

You can use alternatives like "reached the summit of the hill", "topped the hill", or "went over the crest of the hill" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "crested the hill" in a metaphorical sense?

While primarily literal, "crested the hill" can be used metaphorically to describe reaching a peak in a career or project, suggesting a turning point or new perspective. However, ensure the context warrants such a vivid image.

What's the difference between "crested the hill" and "at the crest of the hill"?

"Crested the hill" is a verb phrase describing the action of reaching the top. "At the crest of the hill" is a prepositional phrase indicating a location or position at the summit. The first describes an action, the second, a state of being.